Dennis Quaid to Endorse Blueprint for Patient Safety

News provided by

Apr 10, 2010, 01:47 ET

Actor Champions Campaign to Prevent Medical Mistakes at National Press Club April 12

WASHINGTON, April 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dennis Quaid, actor, patient safety advocate, and co-founder of The Quaid Foundation, will address a National Press Club Speakers Series luncheon Mon., April 12. In a speech entitled "Real Health Care Reform: Chasing Zero Harm," Mr. Quaid will issue a call to action for policy makers, hospitals, and the public to link funding and accountability with safe patient practices and technology to prevent avoidable medical errors.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080917/NPCLOGO )

Mr. Quaid will endorse new recommendations from the "Safe Practices for Better Healthcare," a report being released April 12 by the National Quality Forum (NQF) (www.qualityforum.org). He is co-author of the patient section of the NQF report which details 34 practices available for immediate use by all US hospitals and healthcare providers.

The award-winning actor turned activist who testified before Congress for drug accountability will also announce a merger involving The Quaid Foundation. The Foundation was formed by Mr. Quaid and his wife to raise public awareness about medical mistakes after the near-death experience of their newborn twins from an accidental Heparin overdose at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in 2007.

Mr. Quaid will also announce the April 22global premier of his new documentary "Chasing Zero: Winning the War on Healthcare Harm," to be released at the "Global Patient Safety Summit" in Nice, France, where the actor will be keynote speaker. The made-for-television documentary is the first in a series of patient safety films slated to air on the Discovery Channel April 24, May 1, and May 8 (http://www.safetyleaders.org/home.jsp).

At the Press Club Mr. Quaid will be joined by Dr. Charles Denham, co-chair of the NQF committee, and Chairman of the Austin-based research organization Texas Medical Institute of Technology (TMIT). Mr. Quaid and Dr. Denham recently co-authored an article for the "Journal of Patient Safety" called "Story Power: The Secret Weapon."

Mr. Quaid is recognized for roles in such films as "Far From Heaven," "Traffic," "Vantage Point," "The Rookie," "Wyatt Earp," "The Right Stuff," and "The Big Easy," and "Great Balls of Fire."

The National Press Club luncheon will begin at 12:30 p.m. Mr. Quaid's remarks will begin just after 1:00 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session. Advance reservations should be made by contacting (202) 662-7501 or [email protected].

Credentialed press may cover this event with proper ID. Media with questions may contact Melissa Charbonneau at [email protected]. All NPC luncheon events are webcast live at www.press.org.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB

The National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. Founded in 1908, the Club has 3,500 members representing most major news organizations. Each year, the Club holds more than 2,000 events including news conferences, luncheons and panels, and more than 250,000 guests enter its doors. For information about the Club, go to www.press.org.

SOURCE National Press Club